In separate operations in Benue State, soldiers from the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke, killed a suspected kidnapper and detained two more.
This was mentioned in a statement released and made available to journalists on Sunday by Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, OPWS’s acting Media Information Officer.
The OPWS spokesperson claims that on August 19, 2026, troops acting on reliable intelligence apprehended a suspected bandit kingpin and his companions who were running an unauthorized checkpoint along the Jortar-Atume axis.
“On arrival, the troops made contact with the criminals, resulting in a firefight during which one suspected bandit, identified by the nickname ‘Cool Nigga,’ was neutralized,” the statement said.
“The troops recovered the motorcycle that the other members of the group had abandoned as they fled in confusion.”
Two alleged kidnappers were also apprehended in a different operation at Gou in the state’s Logo Local Government Area, the OPWS spokesperson continued.
He claimed that the two accused, Terhile Iyo, 44, and Vershima Emmanuel, 32, had admitted to attempting to abduct Mrs. Balame Nyikwagh of Gou village.
One locally manufactured pistol, one cartridge, five TECNO torchlight phones, a MoniePoint ATM card, an identity card, numerous SIM cards, and charms were among the things found on the suspects, according to Lt. Zubairu, who also stated that the suspects were still being held by the military for more investigation.
The military encouraged locals to keep giving security agencies timely and reliable information while assuring them of its dedication to safeguarding lives and property in the states of Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba.
